Last updated: October 2026
ManyChat's price climbs with your whole contact list — even people who messaged you once a year ago. Zaprep counts only Active Contacts: the people your automations message this month, and the count resets every month. Free covers 1,000 a month; Growth is $14.99 for 15,000+.
No credit card required · Free plan available · Switch in 5 minutes
Built with security & compliance in mind
The best ManyChat alternative in 2026 is Zaprep — an Instagram automation tool that counts only the people you actually message each month, not every contact you have ever stored. ManyChat switched to contact-based pricing in March 2026, cutting its free plan from 1,000 contacts to 25 and making costs unpredictable for creators with growing audiences. Zaprep offers the same core features — comment-to-DM automation, keyword triggers, story reply automation, email lead collection — at simple monthly pricing: the Free plan is $0 (1,000 Active Contacts/month on 1 account), and Growth is $14.99/mo with 15,000+ Active Contacts, 5 accounts, Follow Gate, and email collection. Extra usage on Growth is $0.99 per 1,000 DMs. Both tools use the official Meta Graph API, so neither puts your account at risk. Switching from ManyChat to Zaprep takes under 5 minutes: connect your Instagram Business account, recreate your keyword trigger, and go live. Last verified: June 2026.
Contact-based pricing punishes growth
ManyChat charges more as your audience grows. A viral post that brings 2,000 new contacts can double your monthly bill overnight — even if most never message you.
Free plan slashed to 25 contacts
ManyChat reduced the free tier from 1,000 contacts to 25 in March 2026. Most creators hit the limit within days of signing up.
Unpredictable bills
Contact-based billing means you can't predict your monthly cost. High-engagement posts create billing surprises.
| Feature | Zaprep | ManyChat |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan contacts | 1,000 Active Contacts/mo | 25 contacts |
| Pricing model | People messaged per month | Per contact stored |
| Paid plan | $14.99/mo — 15,000+ Active Contacts | $15/mo — 500 contacts |
| Viral post spike cost | $0.99 per extra 1,000 DMs | Scales with new contacts |
| Official Meta API | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Comment → DM automation | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Story reply automation | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Follow gate | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Email lead collection | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Unified inbox | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Facebook Page comments + Messenger DMs | Included, even on the free plan | Supported |
ManyChat started on Messenger, so many accounts run Facebook flows as well. Zaprep covers the comment-to-Messenger workflow for Facebook Pages — comment auto-replies, a private DM with your link, and keyword replies in Messenger — alongside Instagram, on one plan.
No technical setup. No migration complexity.
Create a free Zaprep account
Sign up with Google or email. No credit card.
Connect your Instagram Business account
Authorise via the official Meta OAuth flow. Takes 60 seconds.
Create your first automation rule
Set your keyword trigger, write the DM reply, toggle live. Done.
Why are people leaving ManyChat in 2026?
ManyChat restructured pricing in March 2026, cutting the free plan from 1,000 contacts to 25 and introducing contact-based billing. Creators with large audiences now face unpredictable monthly costs that scale with follower count, not usage.
Is Zaprep safe to use for Instagram automation?
Yes. Zaprep uses the official Meta Graph API — the same infrastructure Meta provides for approved business tools. No scraping, no unofficial bots, no risk of account suspension.
How long does it take to switch from ManyChat to Zaprep?
Under 5 minutes. Connect your Instagram Business account, recreate your keyword trigger and DM reply, and toggle the rule live. No technical setup required.
Do stored contacts count toward my Zaprep bill?
No. Zaprep counts Active Contacts — the unique people your automations message in a month — not every contact you have stored. The Free plan includes 1,000 Active Contacts/month on 1 account. Growth is $14.99/mo with 15,000+ Active Contacts, 5 accounts, and Follow Gate. Your total follower or contact count never affects your bill.
Does Zaprep have a free plan?
Yes. The Free plan costs $0 — 1 connected account and 1,000 Active Contacts/month. No credit card required. Upgrade to Growth ($14.99/mo) when you need more volume, more accounts, Follow Gate, or email collection.
Does Zaprep work with Facebook Pages and Messenger like ManyChat?
Yes. Connect a Facebook Page and Zaprep auto-replies to post comments, sends the commenter a private Messenger DM with your link, and answers Messenger messages by keyword — in the same account and plan as your Instagram automations, including the Free plan.